When does leg color change?

[Marcia Lincoln]

Hi all, I'm new to breeding Ameraucanas. I have BBS and had my first hatch Jan. 27 this year. I went through the chicks to wing band this morning and noticed quite a few with yellow on their soles, some with incomplete slate shanks, some with all slate shanks. There was just a lot of variation. I didn't pay much attention to leg or sole color when they first hatched, figured they were going to change, but the new hatch this morning I just took out of the hatcher, seems like most have slate legs/pink soles already. What should I expect and how long should I wait before deciding a bird needs to be culled for yellow? I have not tested my breeding male to see if he carries yellow, does everybody do that?

[Michelle Ogden]

I am also curious about this. Anyone??

[jerryse]

Leg color will change . No need to worry . When will it change ? Well I never keep track .

[Mike Gilbert]

It varies depending on strain and variety, but give it at least six weeks.

[Marcia Lincoln]

Thanks. I'll keep an eye on them. Mostly I am concerned about yellow soles. Some of the birds I got last year had yellow. I culled those, and am using an unrelated male. So if I see yellow in the shanks or soles, then the male has to be carrying it as well as one or more of the pullets, right? If that happens, I will have to scrap the whole project.

[Mike Gilbert]

Yellow soles at what age?   I would not cull for that until they were at least 3 - 4 months old, especially if they are running on grass or getting a lot of yellow corn. 

[Marcia Lincoln]

I forget now how old they were, but at least that old. There were other issues with that line as well, which is why I decided to get a male from another line and cross them. Are you saying you can't tell if an Ameraucana is carrying yellow until they are 3-4 months old?

[Marcia Lincoln]

Forgot to add, no mine are not on grass. They get a commercial organic feed pellet/crumble that does have corn.

[John]

Here is more food for thought...
http://ameraucana.org/forum/index.php?topic=1439.0
...and not everyone will agree on the answer to your 1st question.  I say it depends on the variety.

some with incomplete slate shanks

I think that will fill in, with blacks, as they mature.

[Marcia Lincoln]

Thanks so much for the link. Very interesting reading.